Calla Lilly Boxes

I made these boxes for the annual Lily art show at the local pottery gallery. It seems like I’ve done a lot of these lily projects and some might think I really like doing lilies but the truth is I like the show and wanted to make sure I had something to enter. These boxes are my first attempt at using the packet cutting method in my marquetry. I normally use the double bevel method because that was the way I first learned. There was originally three but I scraped one after trying to add some veins to the leafs but it just didn’t work. Next time I will use a wood with less grain for the leafs, I thought the curly grain would give it depth. I definitely learned a few things doing this and really like this method of marquetry. the biggest problem is keeping track of all those little piecesand separating the good from the waste, this pic is only about half of them!These little boxes are at about a 7” radius and 4” tall. One is walnut &walnut burl and the other is mahogany. I made the lift out shelf’s because it just seemed to deep for a box of this size. I don’t have much experience in box making but I do have a whole new respect for the folks that do ,these things kicked my but LOL!

-- Paul--- Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. — Scott Adams

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13 comments so far

Really nice Paul. Which method did you use? Boulle or piece by piece (classic)?Sometimes if the pieces are small like these you can keep track of them pretty well in dozen size egg boxes.Looks like you did very well for a first crack at packets. I don’t see any kerfs.And the boxes are lovely. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

I love these. They are just beautiful.

-- Paul M ..............If God wanted us to have fiberglass boats he would have given us fiberglass trees. http://prmdesigns.com/

Very nicely done…and I understand exactly what you mean about keeping track of the pieces.

I have used the plastic bead storage containers avaialble at the craft stores for holding the small pieces. They are nice because the lid closes tight on the individual compartments and there is no risk of losing them. The downside is the bigger pieces wont fit…for those you need to make some trays that have shallow sides so that you can lay out the pieces in an exploded view fashion.

Really nice job Paul. I think they are supurb. Paul ,aka shipwright had a nice idea using egg cartons for storage/dividers for all those tiny pieces, or you could buy a couple of those plastic divider boxes with a lid that snaps closed. I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby, or you can get them at wal-mart. These have worked out really well for me for keeping up with hundreds of small pieces when cutting pearl for inlay work.

You did a great job on these two boxes. Your marquetry looks incredible!!! very professional. The radius trim is a very elegant touch to the bottom edge! Did you bend the hardwood in layers or cut them out and shaped them to fit?

Thanks Dennis.Actually the trim and the edge banding were cut from solid wood using the vertical grain as the edge. The edge was cut about 3/32 thick but because the grain runs vertical it bends real nicely around a radius, its a little fragile but it lets you put a slight radius on the banding which you can’t do with thin cut veneer. I never had done that before but it worked great and can’t wait to try it on a large table top. I’m betting that with a larger radius you can use a thicker piece maybe 3/16” to 1/4”. The glue-up was a little nerve wracking because I had a couple pieces snap before I could get it clamped, you know how it can happen , it works great on the dry run and then when the glue is applied and your trying to hurry you have a failure LOL!

-- Paul--- Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. — Scott Adams